Musical instrument.



No. 745.241. PATENTED NOV. 24., 1903.

a ROSSI. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1903. no 140mm,.

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Patented November 2%, 1903.

Parent @rrrcn.

GIACINTO ROSSI, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUSEGAL lhlSTRUiV l SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. l5,241, dated November 24:, 1963.

Application filed August 22, 1908. fierial No. 170,497. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GIAOINTO ROSSI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Musical instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in stringed instruments; and its object is to provide an instrument of this character which may be readily supported upon the lap of the player and which is provided with a sound-box of novel form, whereby the volume of the tones produced is increased without marring the quality thereof.

Another object is to provide a device of this character having frets which are ranged in a novel manner, so as to permit the fingers to assume easypositions when pressing the strings.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in providing a lyreshaped body the interior of which communicates with a sound-box arranged between the arms of the body and having a neck projecting from it centrally of the device. A desired number of strings. are arranged on the neck and body, and located upon the neck is a series of frets which extend diagonally from side to side.

The invention also consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front eleva tion of the instrument. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, l is a lyre-shaped sound-box having sound-openings 2 arranged therein at desired points, so as to distribute the sound-waves at various points along the body of the instrument. Arranged intermediate the arms dot the sound-box 1 is a second sound-box A, which may be of any suitable shape, and these two sound-boxes communicate through an opening 5 therebetween. A neck 6 projects from the sound-box A longitudinally of the instrument and at a point preferably equidistant from the arms 3 of the sound-box 1, and a desired number of strings '7 are ar ranged on the neck. The frets 8 employed are of ordinary construction, but are preferably arranged diagonally upon the neck, as shown. A sound-opening 10 is formed within the front face of the sound-box A.

it will be understood that when one or more of the strings 7 are vibrated the sound-Waves produced within the sound-box 4 will be combined with and augmented by the soundwaves produced within the sound-box 1. A portion of these waves will pass from theinstrument through the opening 10, while the balance will pass through the openings 2 within the lyre-shaped sound-box 1,and owing to the peculiar shape of this sound-box it will be seen that the sounds will be sustained for considerable periods. Moreover, by employing the two sound-boxes the volume of the tones produced is increased Without marring their quality. By'arranging the frets diagonally upon the neck 7 the fingers of the musician can be placed in easy positions for pressing the strings.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not desire to limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

iaving thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a musical instrument, the combination with a lyre-shaped sound-box, having sound-openings therein, of a second soundbox communicating with the first-mentioned sound-box, a neck extending from the second sound-box, and strings upon said neck and extending over the sound-box.

2. In a musical instrument, the combina tion with a lyre-shaped sound-box, having sound-openings therein and comprising a body and similar oppositely-curved arms, of a second sound-box interposed between the arms and communicating with the first-mentioned sound-box, a neck extending from the second sound-box and centrally of the instrument, and strings arranged upon the neck and sound-boxes.

3. In an instrument of the character Ge ailel frets thereon, and strings arranged upon the neck and sound-boxes, said sound-boxes being provided with sound-openings.

GIACINTO ROSSI.

tioned sound-box, a neck extending from the second sound-box, diagonally-arranged par- ENRI PEZZETTA, FRANK DI NANNI. 

